Campus Scenes Student life in Wenzao

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages was founded by Ursuline sisters of the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula in 1966. It is a catholic university named in honor of Wenzao Lo, the first Chinese Bishop. Wenzao is the first and the only university of languages in Taiwan. Wenzao campus may be small but it is exquisite. The mission statement of Wenzao is “with Chinese language and culture as the foundation, Wenzao seeks through the language education and professional training to provide services to society with the research and development of language teaching.” Wenzao hopes that students in their early years should embrace their root culture when acquiring foreign language education. This spirit is shown by the campus buildings.

Zhengqi Hall is the first building constructed on Wenzao campus. With the traditional elements of Chinese building style, such as glazed tiles, arch entrances and decorative pillars, the Hall fully embodies Chinese humanities. Imitating the style of a Chinese palace building, Zhengqi Hall is a three-storey building. From all the angles, the spectators can appreciate its grandeur. Superintended by the Ursuline nuns themselves during the construction, Zhengqi Hall represents the spirit of Wenzao. Every year, budgets are made to maintain and repair this building with a history of almost a half-century.

A historical photo of Wenzao gate

Photo offered by Wenzao Archive

A historical photo of Zhengqi Hall

Photo offered by Wenzao Archive

“Administration Buildings,” including Administration offices, Auditorium and Chapel in Praise of Jesus, fully utilise the irregular space of Wenzao’s campus. The design follows the rise and fall of the terrain, with different buildings placed at appropriate locations. The fractional space becomes steps covered with banyan trees; Xinchuan Square, green and a fishpond all comprise a picture of a Chinese garden.

In order to match the style of Zhengqi Hall, the style of red bricks and white walls is maintained. While the colours of red and white are kept, the green of the tiles of Zhengqi Hall is replaced by the brown porcelain supporting the corridor railings, which is also the major feature of these buildings. The Auditorium and Administration Buildings were designed by Shen Chi-Sun. It presents the traditional Chinese building shape combined with a modern style. It is simple but includes all the traditional heritages. The design utilises the terrain with different floors, and thus maximises the usage of space. Shen Chi-Sun won the Gold Prize of the Architect Magazine (the present Taiwan Architecture Award) in 1992.

Administration Building

Photography by Ching-hung Yen

Xinchuan Square

Photography by Zhao-ming Hong

Moreover, in 1981, in order to commemorate Sr. Marie de Lourdes, OSU (1899-1981), who once managed the founding of Wenzao, one building was named Lourdes Hall. In 2005, for constructing new offices and research building, the west wing of Lourdes Hall was demolished to build the Zhishan Hall and Scholar’s Residence. Currently, Lourdes Hall is the location of the Office of Research and Development, Centre for English Language Teaching, Department of English, Language Diagnostic & Consulting Centre, and Centre of Chinese Language. It also contains teachers’ offices and regular classrooms.

“Mingyuan”is another feature building on Wenzao campus. It is a two-storey Chinese quadrangle built with red and white bricks. In the middle of Mingyuan, there is a half-moon shaped amphitheater and landscaping design at the front. Both wings of Mingyuan are classrooms. The slanting tiled roofs extend toward the sports ground. Its openwork design and imposing grandeur give spectators a feeling of history.